Mexican State Legislatures Approve Energy Changes

Oil Industry to Be Opened to More Private Investment

By

Anthony Harrup

Updated Dec. 16, 2013 4:29 p.m. ET

MEXICO CITY—A majority of Mexican state legislatures have approved changes in the constitution that open the country's state-run energy industry to greater private investment and end a 75-year-old monopoly of state oil company Petróleos Mexicanos.

Early Monday, San Luis Potosí became the 17th state to vote in favor of the bill, which amends the constitution to allow for private firms to explore for and produce oil and gas for the...